Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-01
DYNAMITE ON A SHIP.
An Explosion on an Old Dominion
Line Boat just Setting Out.

Line Boat just Setting Out.
NEW YORK, Jan. 31.--At O'Clock this
afternoon the steamship Guyandotte, OF
the Old Dominion Line, sailed from her
pier at the foot of Beach street, in this
city, for Norfolk, Va. AS the last bell
was ringing preVilus to the departure of
the vessel Robert Sinclair, a mess boy,
noticed young man about % years Of
age coming hurriedly from the closet
room. The boy's attention was fixed and
he noted that the stranger had a brown
mOustache and whiskers and that he wore
derby hat, light brown overoOat and
dark trousers. These observations Were
made while the stranger hurried ashore
and disappeared among knot of persons
at the foot of the gang plank. The
steamer. Capt. ID. Kelly in command, pro-
ceeded on her voyage.
AN EXPLOSION.
When of Long Branch an explosion oc-
Cured in the after part Of the saloon, by
which Capt. Kelly and James Justine
were slightly injured. The explosion is
believed to have been from dynamite
packed IN a satchel that had been
left in the closet door. Sinclair told
the Captain OF the stranger who
had hurried ashore as the last bell
was ringing before the steamer sailed and
naturally he is regarded as having placed
the satchel containing the explosive.
The steamer at once put about, and ar
rived at her dock at 10;30 O'Clock to-
night. The damage to the vessel has not
been learned as yet. The Guyandotte
left her pier with a mixed cargo, though
only partly loaded. She carried five sa-
loon and fifteen steerage passengers, with
crew of forty-tVo.
PANIC.
The vessel was OFF Long Branch at 3 40
O'Clock, when the explosion occurred in
the starb0ard quarter, aft. At the mo-
ment the Captain was in the pilot house.
The explosion was beard in every part of
the vessel, and the detonation caused
much excitement among the crew and
passengers. Capt. Kelly at once signaled
to the engine room to stop, and
an investigation was begun. 1t
was discovered THAI a hole about 10 feet
square had been casised by the explosion
through the main and hurricane decks,
and much damaGe had been done in the
saloon and TO the cItside joiner work on
the main deck. Therabin was filled with
splnters of timbtF, piece of which
struck passengeH named ID. A. Kelly.
who was reading ih the saloon about 60
feet from the closets where the explosive
ls believed to have been placed.
BRUISED Gs THE KNEE.
Mr.. Kelly was sevsreiy bruised upon the
knee. James JustThe, waiter upon the
snip, was also strueA by piece OF flying
wood and, was slightly injured. The
machinery OF the VESSEL was found to be
unipiured, but the Captain deemed his
vessel in no condition to continue the
voyage and he put back, returning here al
| 1915 O'clock. The cargo is uninjured.
| TIE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER.
The stranger whom the mess boy, Sin.
clair, saw hurrying from the closet where
the explosion occurred is now known TO
have been 30 years old, 5 feet inches
| nigh. lie had small blonde mOustache
and whiskers, and Sinclair says ne noted
| the stranger some fifteen minutes before
| he came from the closets, and he acted as
| though he desired to avoid attention.
| Then he passed from Sinclair's observation
| until he came from the closets and went
| down the plank. He was the last person to
| leave the vessel before she sailed. Sim
| clair observed that tue stranger carried a
| satchel when he first observed him, but
| that he had none when he lett the vessel.
| The belief on board is that the stranger
| left his satchel, containing dynamite or
| some other powerful explosive, in the
| closets, which are blown 10 atoms and
which locate the centre of the explosion.
| Captain Kelly will see no one tonight.
No person has been permitted on board
and the pier of the company is guarded
by police, who allow no person upon it.